Hi, I’m Aaron.

I am a fight director and stage combat instructor.

Get in Touch!

My Approach

Safety, Story, Shared Vision.

I believe in approaching the work through a collaborative and flexible lens. Within the bounds of what can be safely achieved, I love to work with everyone in the room to create a cohesive picture of how best to tell the story.

I listen attentively to, and collaborate with, the director to develop the vision for the scene. I also work with the actors directly, to find what precise choices work best for their bodies and their brains. This ensures that they feel ownership over the choreography and secure in the safety of the technique.

Whether it’s a thirty person brawl or one single slap, the moments of violence are focal points that can bring a story alive for the audience. My goal is not just to have the moment of violence land, but to have it seamlessly integrated into the story that is being told.

About Me

I’m located near Hartford, Connecticut, but have also traveled everywhere from Los Angeles to Manhattan for projects.

I have worked on a broad array of theatre and film projects since 2014. In addition to serving as a fight director, I offer classes and workshops, and provide consultations for creative teams that need to talk through a single challenge.

I have worked in theatre and film. I have been working since 2014. I teach classes and workshops, fight direct for productions and film projects, and offer consultations.

FAQ

  • If you’re asking, it’s likely you could benefit from one! Beyond just choreographing fight scenes, fight directors can help ensure even small moments of violence enhance how the audience experiences the story you want to tell. We can train actors and crew to ensure props don’t become dangerous, be a source of knowledge on historic context, determine the feasible possibilities for a scene under time constraints, and be a sounding board for many of the other questions related to any violent moments in a production.

  • I charge an hourly rate for fight direction and teaching, with a reduced rate for any consultations or virtual check ins.

    If you have specific budgeting concerns, please reach out and I can provide you with my rate sheet. My priority is making sure stage combat is done safely, and if there’s not a way for us to work together directly, I would still like to help you find someone right for your production.

  • Like so many people, I loved playing with swords as a kid. I also have been working behind the scenes producing community theatre since I was in high school, and have been both learning and teaching various martial arts for just as long. Eventually, these passions blended together into a love for using stage combat to enhance the stories being told on stage!

  • I’ve used hand to hand techniques from specific martial arts from all over the world, in addition to various types of swords, theatrical firearms, and other handheld weapons. I’ve used whips, brooms, and telephone cords as weapons on stage. It’s likely I can help with whatever your show needs. But if I can’t, I hope you still reach out, because I’ll definitely be able to connect you with someone who can!

Get in Touch!

Interested in working together? Just have a question? Either way, send me an email and I’ll be in touch as soon as I can!